Associated PressWesley Matthews scores on a left-handed reverses layup for two of the 15 points he scored in the NBA Rookie Challenge on Friday.

His team didn't win, but Wesley Matthews still managed to inject a touch of Trail Blazers culture to All-Star weekend.

Matthews introduced the "3Goggles" gesture to the Rookie Challenge on Friday, not only doing it after making three three-pointers on seven attempts, but also getting several of his sophomore teammates to do it, too.

"We got a couple of them to do it," Matthews said in a brief telephone interview after the game.

In a highlight-filled game that featured only token defense for most of the game, the rookies took a 148-140 victory at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Matthews, starting for the sophomores, had 15 points, six assists and four rebounds in 21 minutes.

"It was great," he said. "Other than the loss, everything has been amazing."

Washington's John Wall was named most valuable player after he got 12 points and 22 assists for the rookie team. His former teammate at Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins of Sacramento, added 33 points and 14 rebounds for the rookies.

James Harden of Oklahoma City led the sophomores with 30 points, and DeJuan Blair of San Antonio added 28 points and 15 rebounds.

Harden made four three-pointers and followed Matthews' urging to flash 3Goggles after making one. But Matthews seemed most proud of getting Harden's Thunder teammate, forward Serge Ibaka, to make the gesture. Ibaka, after all, has only made one three-pointer in his NBA career, and has none this season.

"Yeah, and he made two of them tonight," Matthews said.

The game capped a whirlwind visit to Los Angeles for Matthews, who arrived Thursday and was kept busy with interviews and appearances, plus a brief practice Friday afternoon at the neighboring Los Angeles Convention Center.

Matthews was accompanied much of the time by his mother, Pam Moore. When Matthews signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the Blazers last summer, he let Moore retire from her long-time job with American Family Insurance in Madison, Wis., and they got to enjoy the All-Star experience together.

"She's loving it," Matthews said. "I'm excited we've been able to share this. We've been through a lot together, and now she gets to be a part of this."

Matthews said he will leave Los Angeles on Saturday morning but had not decided how to spend the rest of the All-Star break before the Blazers reconvene for practice Tuesday to prepare for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Rose Garden.

Matthews has been battling a painful right ankle since rolling it in a drill after practice on Jan. 13. He said it felt "all right" during Friday's game. But Matthews also is a huge gym rat with a big work ethic, and said he's not sure if he'll spend his three days off resting or working out.

"Probably a little bit of both," he said. "I'm going to try to rest my ankle up, but at the same time, stay in shape."